In 1976, addressing a delegation of young Giscardians visiting Beijing, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qiao Guanhua, declared: “At present, the countries of Europe are using various methods to strengthen their union ; This is practical, but to achieve this, we believe that we must above all set a common objective, in order to mobilize well”. Almost fifty years later, China still observes European construction with the same attention and still wonders about the common strategy of what has become the European Union (EU). Admittedly, the existence of the Single Market is far from displeasing to the Chinese and their companies since in 2022 they would remain the main trading partners of the EU with 20.8% of goods imported on European soil. If the imbalance of trade between China and the old continent is a subject of concern for Brussels and some of the member countries, it is not at the heart of Chinese concerns even if Beijing seeks to satisfy, according to its interests, European trade demands to ensure that the political link remains strong.
